GREENSBORO, N.C. – Kobe Langley,
Khyre Thompson,
Kaleb Hunter, and
De'Monte Buckingham made game-changing plays in the final minute to help the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball finish strong in a 55-48 victory over Coppin State in a non-conference contest at the Greensboro Coliseum Monday night.
In raising their record to 3-0 for the first time since 1982 and as a Division I program, the Spartans scored eight points in the final 54 seconds to subdue the fiesty Eagles.
Hunter and Buckingham concluded Langley assists with 3-pointers that were sandwiched around Thompson's second charge drawn of the contest.
The 3-pointers from Hunter and Buckingham were the first time UNCG made consecutive baskets in the second half. It was needed especially after Nendah Tarke's two-handed dunk gave the Eagles a 48-47 advantage with 75 seconds remaining.
While the fans may have been nervous because of Coppin State's only lead of the second half, the Spartans were as cool as a scoop of ice cream to earn their second home victory of the season.
Statistical Standouts
- Thompson's charge finished off a solid 13-point, eight-rebound performance.
- For the second consecutive year, Thompson reached double figures in scoring against Coppin State. In two games, he averaged 15.5 points per game.
- Hunter, who gave UNCG the lead for good, 50-48 with 50 seconds remaining, finished with his fourth career double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds).
- Buckingham added eight points and a season best 12 rebounds. Bas Leyte contributed seven points and six rebounds.
- Coppin State got a game-high 21 points on 23 shots from Jesse Zarzuela. He also garnished his effort with eight steals and seven rebounds.
- Tyree Corbett (12 points) and Tarke (10) also reached double figures for the Eagles, who were playing their fifth game in six days in their fourth different state.
Records
Coppin State 0-5
UNCG 3-0
Quotable
Thompson on being 3-0 for the first time as a Division I program
"It feels good to win our first three games. Obviously, there's no finish line. We're not as good as we can be and we are not where we need to be. This early start shows that we know the pieces are there and that we can compete with anybody. People outside our locker room can think whatever, but we know we're just as good as any team in the country when we lock in and come ready to play. It's good to see the results from that, but at the end of the day, this isn't our ultimate goal at the end of the day to be 3-0."
How It Happened
- Prior to the late game theatrics, UNCG made four of its first 21 shots in the second half, which enabled Coppin State to creep back into the contest.
- After Mohammed Abdulsalam scored to extend UNCG's lead to 47-43 with 2:32, Coppin State scored the next five points to take its first lead since it held a 2-0 lead.
- Thompson made a 3-pointer with under six minutes remaining to give UNCG a 43-39 lead.
- The Spartans led 31-20 at intermission behind Thompson, who scored 10 points in the opening 20 minutes.
- UNCG used a 16-2 burst in the first half to open a commanding 22-8 lead following five consecutive points from Miles Jones.
- During the run, Langley forced a turnover that Jalen White transformed into UNCG's only dunk of the contest.
- The Spartans opened the game by forcing a Coppin State 30-second shot clock violation on their first defensive possession.
- It was the second straight game in which UNCG opened the game by forcing a turnover on its first defensive possession.
Inside the Numbers
- Thompson scored a season-high point total.
- This is the fifth time Thompson has reached double digits in scoring.
- This was the 31st time Hunter has scored in double figures.
- UNCG took three charges in the first half (Bas Leyte, Buckingham, and Thompson).
- This was Thompson's second straight game with at least five rebounds.
- UNCG had four players finish with at least six rebounds.
- UNCG held Coppin State to 28.1 percent shooting (18-for-64).
- Coppin State turned 19 UNCG turnovers into 17 points.
- UNCG's bench outscored Coppin State's bench, 15-0 in the first half.
- UNCG has won 76 home games since the start of the 2015-16 season.
- Buckingham has 1,341 career points.
- UNCG has led by double figures at halftime in consecutive contests.
- The Spartans made a season-high seven 3-pointers.
- Jones scored a career best six points in three minutes.
Final Word
UNCG head coach Mike Jones on the victory
"It's good to learn from lessons from wins. For us, we understand where we are trying to get to and how much better we got to be. I am proud of this team for finding a way to gut out a tough win against a team that hadn't won a game. Their record was certainly not indictive of the type of talent they have, the type of team that they have, and the type of coaching they have. Really proud of our guys for digging down deep and making the plays they had to get this win."
Up Next
- UNCG will compete in the Jersey Mike's Classic in St. Petersburg, Florida beginning Thursday when it meets Green Bay at 3 p.m. The first meeting in program history against Green Bay will be televised live nationally on CBS Sports Network.
